William h



(No Model.)

W. H. ATKINSON. BOX.

No. 277,401. L4 Patented May 8,1883.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. ATKINSON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSlG-NOR TO'SOMERS BROTHERS, OF SAME PLACE.

Box.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 277,401, dated May 8, 1883.

' Application filed March 21, 1853. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. ATKINSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Boxes, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

I o This invention relates, generally, to that class of boxes in which the sides and bottom are made from a single piece of material or blank, but more particularly to that portion of said class of boxes which are made of tin or other comparatively thin sheet metal, it being the object of the invention to produce a box of this class which can be packed in a small space for shipment, and also to provide a means by which the sides of the box may be united at the corners in such a manner asto form a strong and tight joint without the use of solder, and which will at the same time add greatly to the strength and rigidity of the structure.

To these ends the invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter fully explained and particularly pointed out.

In the accompanyin g drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the box ismade. Figs. 2 and 3 are edge views of the same, illustrating two of the operations involved in the manufacture. Fig. ,4 is a plan view of the box when in condition to receive the corner locking-pieces. Figs. 5 and 6 are opposite side elevations of one of the corner locking-pieces. Fig. 7 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 8 is a plan view of one corner of the box after the locking-piece has been in- 0 serted. Fig. 9 is a like view of the same corner after it has been pressed so as to close the seam and give to the corner afinished appearance, and Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modification tobejereinafter referred to.

The blank from which the box is formed consists of a piece, a, of suitable size and shape for the bottom of the box, provided with wings or projections, as b c d e, of suitable size and shape for the sides, these side-forming por- 5o tions beingprovided with narrow projections f,

formed by short recesses g, which extend inward from the adjacent corners of the side portions, all as shown in Fig. 1. The blank being thus formed, is then bent upon the lines 1 2, so as to cause the portionsf to stand at right angles to the portions b c d e, as shown in Fig. 2, after which the portionsfare bent over so as to lie parallel with the portions 1) e (Z c and form hooked flanges, as shown in Fig. 3. The blank reduced to this form is then bent upon the lines 1 1, so as to cause the portions 1) c d e to stand at right angles to the bottom portion and bring their adjacent edges together at the corners of the box, as shown in Fig. 4.

After the box has been formed, as just described, its corners are secured by means of locking-pieces h, composed of narrow strips of sheet metal bent to the form shown in Figs. 5,

6, and 7, so as to form double locking-flanges 6. These locking-pieces are inserted from the top of the box, so that the flanges i interlock with the flanges f, as shown in Fig. 8, thereby holding the sides of the box securely together, and forming very strong and rigid corners 7 without the use of solder.

After the locking-pieces have been inserted, as just described, the corners of the box may be pressed in a suitable die, so as to close the seam and give the box the finished and smooth 8o appearance shown in Fig. 9. The joint thus formed will be sufficiently tight for all ordinary purposes, and if well made may even be sufficiently tight to prevent the passage of a liquid. The box thus formed is not only very 3 strong and rigid, but,'being made without sol der, the cost of manufacture is materially reduced. 1

The simplicity of the bending required in making a box in this manner also rendersit pos- 9o sible to perform all of the. operations by machinery of a comparatively simple nature.

In a large number of the boxes of this class the outside is provided with an enamel finish which is destroyed by the heat of solder, and 9 5 for this reason, also, it is of very great advantage to dispense with the necessity of using solder at the corners.

Another advantage of this construction is due to the compact form in which the boxes may be packed for shipment. After the blanks have been reduced to the form shown in Fig.

' 3, and the locking-pieces completed, the parts may, as will be readily seen, be closely packed and shipped to the place of use, the bending upon the lines 1 1 and the insertion of the locking-pieces being done at the place where the boxes are filled.

Although, as already stated, the construction herein described is particularly adapted to boxes made of tin or other comparatively thin sheet metal, yet -its application is not confined to boxes made of such material. The sides and bottom may be made of card or paste connection with the portion 6 in Fig. 1 which,

after the sides of the box have been brought together and the corners secured by the locking-pieces, will be bent inward and upward,

so as to form a ledge or shoulder, m, around the top of the box, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. This shoulder will serve as a seat for the cover, and will also extend over and conceal the lockingpieces at the corners, as shown in Fig. 11, which figure is taken upon a line corresponding to the line at a: of Fig. 8.

What I claim is 1. A sheet-metal box having its sides and bottom formed of a single piece, and its corners secured by flanged locking-pieces made independent of the sides, and located upon the inside of the box, substantially as described.

. 2.. The herein-described blank for a knockdown box, the same consisting of bottom and side forming portions, the latter being provided with hooked flanges for the reception of independent corner locking-pieces, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with the sides of the box provided with hooked flanges f, of the locking-pieces 7L, provided with double locking-flanges i, and located entirely within the box, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my handin the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM H. ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

J. A. HOVEY, T. H. PALMER. 

